as in dove
a person who opposes war or warlike policies
a committed pacifist, Gandhi succeeded in bringing about Indian independence using only nonviolence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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or pacifistic
as in neutral
inclined to live in peace and to avoid war
the newspaper's editorial board has clearly staked out a pacifist position on the current conflict
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacifist
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The anti-expansionist response united pacifists, abolitionists and a variety of religious and literary figures, helping deepen the divides that would lead to the Civil War.
—G. Patrick O'Brien, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 17 June 2025
Not long after, the Japanese government reinterpreted the country’s pacifist constitution, allowing its armed forces to work more closely with partner militaries.
—Ely Ratner, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Noun
Shoshone chief Winter Bird (Irene Bedard) is a pacifist dealing with young braves too eager to fight.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
The anti-expansionist response united pacifists, abolitionists and a variety of religious and literary figures, helping deepen the divides that would lead to the Civil War.
—G. Patrick O'Brien, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Anton Petrus | Moment | Getty Images Japan, renowned for its pacifist constitution, is now setting its sights on the global arms exports market.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 17 June 2025
Not long after, the Japanese government reinterpreted the country’s pacifist constitution, allowing its armed forces to work more closely with partner militaries.
—Ely Ratner, Foreign Affairs, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacifist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifist
Noun
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Tennessee’s dove season starts at noon Sept. 1 and ends at sunset.—
Andy Humbles,
The Tennessean,
17 Aug. 2025
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This new chick was born on July 12 to two adult ground doves already housed at the Parque das Aves.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The fermentation program is more detailed than your usual bottle: 33.4% in amphora with 20% skin contact; 33.3% stainless steel, 33.3% neutral French oak.—
Lana Bortolot,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The two schools have played four times in their history, all at neutral sites, including the national championship game in 2020.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Similar concerns were raised in the latest U.S. Country Report on Human Rights Practices, which flagged issues of judicial independence, media freedom, and the right to peaceful assembly.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Aug. 2025
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Relations were strained but ultimately peaceful between the families until the wild and unpredictable hustler Baroness Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet (Ana de Armas) and her two lovers, Rudy Lorenz (Felix Kammerer) and Robert Phillipson (Toby Wallace), showed up.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Such was the peaceable dreaming, the end-of-history thinking, in the wake of the Twelve-Day War.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Trump’s narrow nationalism does not seem more peaceable than internationalism.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Courtesy: Apple Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media and analysts for a launch event at its campus on September 9 at 10 A.M pacific time.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
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Xi must know that old societies tend to be pacific and that China is getting old fast.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pacifist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifist. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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